Intel unveils cheaper models of its Ivy Bridge processors

Intel announced the launch of several new inexpensive processors using the company’s Ivy Bridge architecture. According to Slashgear, the new products include three Celeron CPUs, four Pentiums, and a new Core i3-3210. All of them are available starting now at a price range of $42 to $117.

To get technical for a minute, the new Celerons have 2MB of L3 cache, HD integrated graphics, and between 2.3GHz and 2.7GHz. All four Pentiums have 3MB of L3 cache, HD integrated graphics, and range from 2.5GHz to 3.2GHz. Finally, the Core i3-3210 features HD 2500 graphics and 3.2GHz. All of the new models are compatible with Intel’s Socket 1155, so you won’t need to make any motherboard upgrades in order to install one of these low-cost processors. The Celeron and Pentium versions do not have hyper-threading, Intel’s framework that helps in tackling multiple tasks at once, so for the best performance for your buck, it’s worth checking out the Core i3.

Ivy Bridge first appeared on the scene early last summer and has since been one of the preferred choices for powering up top-shelf computers. Intel didn’t change the architecture of its predecessor, but offers better efficiency by making the entire chip smaller. Last year, Intel was rumored to be pushing for another improvement in efficiency in order to get Ivy Bridge into contention for use in tablets, an area in which power is usually sacrificed in favor of battery life.

Intel is making the whole suite of new chips available immediately, so they should be appearing soon on retailers’ websites. It’s a great option for the do-it-yourself crew working on a budget. Even if Ivy Bridge falls from its top position, the architecture will give you solid performance at a good price.